Deck 15: Social Aspects of Later Life: Psychosocial, Retirement, Relationship, and Societal Issues

Question 1

Since he is the next in line for the throne, Prince William must attend formal gatherings nearly every day. Such gatherings represent:

A) proactivity.
B) discontinuity.
C) environmental press.
D) an example of competence.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of healthy aging?

A) Avoiding disease
B) Being well off financially
C) Being engaged with life
D) Maintaining high physical and cognitive functioning

Answer 2

B

Question 3

All of these individuals are currently in jobs that challenge them to perform at their average level of competence. Who would be entering their "zone of maximum comfort?"

A) Janet, whose job just got significantly harder
B) Tito, whose job just got slightly harder
C) Jermaine, whose job just got slightly easier
D) Mahalia, whose job just got significantly easier

Answer 3

C

Question 4

How does one move from an adaptation level to the zone of maximum performance potential?

A) Significantly increase press
B) Slightly increase press
C) Slightly decrease press
D) Significantly decrease press

Question 5

The "zone of maximum comfort" is reached when:

A) people are right at their adaptation level.
B) environmental press slightly exceeds competence.
C) people are maladaptive.
D) competence slightly exceeds environmental press.

Question 6

According to the SOC model, interventions that can be created to help people achieve healthy aging will focus on:

A) targeting goals about the individual that are gathered from third parties.
B) creating a zone of minimizing comfort to stimulate change.
C) emphasizing competence.
D) encouraging docility and withdrawal from challenging situations..

Question 7

The upper limit of a person's ability to function in different domains is called:

A) the zone of maximum comfort.
B) the adaption level.
C) competence.
D) continuity.

Question 8

The ability to exert control over one's life underlies a strong sense of:

A) docility.
B) proactivity.
C) environmental press.
D) disengagement.

Question 9

Watching his grandchildren for the weekend has increased the environmental press in Hugo's life slightly, bringing out the best in Hugo's interpersonal skills. While watching his grandchildren, Hugo is apparently operating:

A) at the adaptation level.
B) in the zone of maximum comfort.
C) in the zone of maximum performance potential.
D) in a marginal zone.

Question 10

When one is at one's "adaptation level," one's:

A) behavior and affect are abnormal.
B) behavior is normal and your affect is abnormal.
C) behavior is abnormal and your affect is normal.
D) behavior and affect are normal.

Question 11

When businessman Eli notices that a lot of deals take place on the golf course, he signs up for golf lessons. Eli is exhibiting:

A) docility.
B) proactivity.
C) environmental press.
D) disengagement.

Question 12

Which adaptation level is associated with the greatest happiness and lack of worry about environmental demands?

A) Zone of maximum performance potential
B) The marginal adaptation level
C) Average level of competence and press level
D) Zone of maximum comfort

Question 13

____ is defined as the demands exerted on oneself by one's surroundings.

A) Environmental press
B) Maximum comfort
C) Internal continuity
D) Competence

Question 14

Bannister has run a mile in just under four minutes, which is his best time ever. This would represent his level of ____ for this skill.

A) compliance
B) docility
C) competence
D) proactivity

Question 15

A university advertises that its goal is to "take all students and help them reach their highest potential." In other words, the university is attempting to help students reach their level of:

A) competence.
B) proclivity.
C) proactivity.
D) internal continuity.

Question 16

Adaptation level is reached when:

A) competence exceeds an environmental press.
B) environmental press exceeds competence.
C) the environmental press makes no demands on competence, but competence still exists.
D) the environmental press is at the average state for a given level of competence.

Question 17

Experimenters are attempting to assess the upper limits of Ralph's physical, sensory-perceptual, cognitive, motor, and personal skills. When they are done, they will have determined Ralph's:

A) proactivity.
B) continuity.
C) competence.
D) environmental press.

Question 18

Maladaptive behavior is MOST likely under conditions of:

A) high competence and weak environmental press.
B) medium competence and moderate environmental press.
C) low competence and weak environmental press.
D) no competence and no environmental press.

Question 19

The view on life that is the result of rethinking and research on older adults is BEST described as:

A) Multidimensional.
B) linear.
C) limited.
D) confused.

Question 20

Winnie is a supervisor of several employees. She believes that her employees, though happy on the job, could be producing more than they are. She decides to try to get them into their "zone of maximum performance potential." What is she going to have to do to accomplish this?

A) Increase their environmental press
B) Increase their competence
C) Increase their sense of continuity
D) Encourage docility

Question 21

Jeff is 73 years old. Lately, he's been thinking about the things he's done in his life-his relationships, his accomplishments, and other experiences he's had. Which term BEST describes what Jeff is doing?

A) Life review
B) Despair
C) Proactivity
D) Socioemotional selectivity

Question 22

After conducting a life review, 85-year-old Gus concludes that his life was riddled with inappropriate actions and basically stunk. Based on this review, Erikson would predict that Gus would:

A) be very fearful of death.
B) become proactive.
C) regress back to an earlier stage of life.
D) exhibit generativity.

Question 23

In the PCP model, _____ are actions that avoid stressors, and ____ are actions that are taken in response to stressors.

A) proactive adaptations; docile adaptations
B) corrective adaptations; preventive
C) preventive adaptations; corrective adaptations
D) docile adaptations; proactive adaptations

Question 24

Which statement about spirituality and health is TRUE?

A) Higher levels of spirituality are associated with better physical and mental health.
B) Higher levels of spirituality are associated with better physical, but poorer mental, health.
C) Higher levels of spirituality are associated with better mental, but poorer physical, health.
D) Lower levels of spirituality are associated with better physical and mental health.

Question 25

One who believes in Erikson's theory would MOST likely view their 90-year-old grandmother as struggling with a conflict of:

A) generativity versus stagnation.
B) integrity versus despair.
C) identity versus role confusion.
D) industry versus inferiority.

Question 26

When elderly people "accept the past," they tend to ____ than people who do not.

A) be in more despair
B) be less depressed
C) have less subjective well-being
D) act more docile

Question 27

In general, subjective well-being:

A) increases in older age.
B) decreases in older age.
C) increases for older men and decreases for older women.
D) increases for older women and decreases for older men.

Question 28

Which of these is NOT typically measured in an effort to assess subjective well-being?

A) Life satisfaction
B) Happiness
C) Stress
D) Self-esteem

Question 29

The conflict of integrity versus despair is characterized by:

A) attempting to make sense out of one's life.
B) forming an initial sense of identity.
C) a sense of great care for the next generation.
D) developing a sense of trust.

Question 30

When Kayla looks back on her life, she is filled with a sense of pride and feels good about what she's done. Which term BEST describes these feelings?

A) Subjective well-being
B) Social convoy
C) Docility
D) Socioemotional selectivity

Question 31

Noah is trying to come to grips with the fact that he is very old and doesn't have long to live. To do this, he thinks of the things he has accomplished, the children he has raised, and the things he has done for the community. Noah is struggling with Erikson's stage of:

A) generativity versus stagnation.
B) integrity versus despair.
C) intimacy versus isolation.
D) initiative versus guilt.

Question 32

Research on subjective well-being across cultures has found that the:

A) degree to which age is viewed positively affects well-being.
B) same factors predict successful aging in other cultures.
C) factors important in Western cultures differ from those in Eastern cultures.
D) cultures with more daily stress have poorer well-being.

Question 33

Which of these factors is NOT related to subjective well-being?

A) Hardiness
B) Marital status
C) Chronic illness
D) Culture

Question 34

Docility is characterized by a sense of:

A) little control.
B) intermediate care.
C) high competence.
D) proactivity.

Question 35

An individual with ____ well-being holds a positive self-evaluation that is based on positive life experiences.

A) dysphoric
B) indeterminate
C) subjective
D) inverse

Question 36

How do changes in the amygdala over time impact the regulation of emotion?

A) Younger adults have higher amygdala activation and lower emotional arousal.
B) Younger adults have lower amygdala activation and higher emotional arousal.
C) Older adults have higher amygdala activation and lower emotional arousal.
D) Older adults have lower amygdala activation and lower emotional arousal.

Question 37

While attempting to cope with the death of her sister, Megan decides to participate in a spontaneous celebration of life sponsored by a local church. For Megan, this participation is a nice example of the use of a ____ support.

A) spiritual
B) secular
C) tertiary
D) docility

Question 38

Hazel is tired of worrying about her new landlord. When her friends tell her to become involved to protect her interests, Hazel says, "It's too late in the day. Whatever happens, happens. I'll simply do whatever the landlord says." Hazel is exhibiting:

A) docility.
B) proactivity.
C) adaptation level.
D) high levels of competence.

Question 39

Erikson would suggest that 80-year-old ____ has achieved integrity.

A) Elmer, who is highly self-conscious,
B) Christine, who is highly self-affirming,
C) Harold, who has good self-recognition skills,
D) Francis, who has excellent self-monitoring skills,

Question 40

Higher cognitive ability predicts:

A) a better emotional regulation.
B) the acquisition of a social convoy.
C) a better sense of integrity.
D) the development of generativity.

Question 41

In the United States, when compared to men, women are more likely to:

A) enter the workforce earlier.
B) spend more time in the workforce.
C) spend less time planning their retirement.
D) have more continuous work histories.

Question 42

Retirement always involves the loss of:

A) integrity.
B) maximum performance potential.
C) autonomy.
D) occupational identity.

Question 43

During meditation, the brain exhibits:

A) an increase in activity.
B) the same activity as during a normal resting state.
C) a decrease in activity.
D) a pattern similar to that of dementia patients.

Question 44

Recently the number of people over age 65 still in the workforce has:

A) decreased slightly.
B) increased significantly.
C) decreased significantly.
D) remained the same as it was for decades.

Question 45

Provided that they have good health, more workers retire ____ than for any other reason.

A) by force
B) because their spouse is retired
C) by choice
D) to engage in volunteer work

Question 46

Which statement concerning satisfaction in retirement is TRUE?

A) No group has been found to show increased levels of satisfaction in retirement.
B) Well-being tends to drop significantly during the first year following voluntary retirement.
C) Forced retirement is associated with declines in physical and mental health.
D) Early-life social challenges are almost always continued in the retirement years, even if one experiences positive interactions in middle adulthood.

Question 47

The possibility exists that mindful meditation could:

A) increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
B) prevent negative changes in the brain.
C) decrease coping skills.
D) increase stress levels.

Question 48

In the last few decades, the number of community organizations designed to involve older adults has:

A) increased significantly.
B) increased slightly.
C) remained stable.
D) decreased slightly.

Question 49

Which statement with regard to retirement is TRUE?

A) In recent years, the number of organizations devoted to assisting retirees has declined.
B) Participation in leisure activities during retirement tends to result in declines in satisfaction.
C) Part-time employment following retirement can be the result of a desire to stay connected to one's former life/career.
D) Retiree volunteerism appears to have little positive impact on society.

Question 50

When coping with high levels of stress, individuals who rely on spiritual support tend to ____ than those with a small religious commitment.

A) show lower levels of self-esteem
B) demonstrate more discomfort with rigid church dogma
C) report higher states of well-being
D) add to their burden more

Question 51

Who is most likely to say, "My relationship with God helped me to overcome my depression?"

A) Sonny, who is a European American male
B) Cher, who is a European American female
C) Ike, who is an Asian American male
D) Tina, who is an African American female

Question 52

____ Americans who pray to the saints and the Virgin Mary on a regular basis tend to have greater optimism and better health.

A) Asian
B) European
C) African
D) Mexican

Question 53

According to the textbook, most workers should have enough savings to generate between ____ of their current income for approximately ____ years in retirement.

A) 50 and 60 percent; 30
B) 60 and 70 percent; 25
C) 70 and 80 percent; 25
D) 80 and 90 percent; 30

Question 54

Many employers have ____ employee pension plans.

A) eliminated
B) increased
C) adequate
D) offered stock options with their

Question 55

AARP created a tool called ____ to assist people in finding their retirement path.

A) Retirement and Beyond
B) Working beyond 65
C) Sit Down and Rest
D) Life Reimagined

Question 56

Concerning gender and retirement, women:

A) tend to have a financial advantage at retirement.
B) tend to prepare more fully for retirement.
C) are more likely to retire if their husbands are already retired.
D) are less likely to fully retire.

Question 57

What factor is responsible for changing many peoples' retirement plans?

A) An increase in volunteer opportunities for individuals over 65
B) Fortune 500 companies lowering the retirement age to 60
C) The Great Recession
D) An increase in distributed lottery funds

Question 58

Which is the BEST example of a "social convoy"?

A) A newly married couple
B) Generation X
C) Several adult lifelong friends
D) A retired individual who plans to move to a community with other retirees

Question 59

Eric has maintained contact with six of his high school friends for the last 60 years. They often get together for activities, to socialize, and to simply spend time together. Eric and his longtime friends would be BEST described as a(n):

A) zone of maximal performance potential.
B) environmental press.
C) zone of minimal comfort.
D) social convoy.

Question 60

Research provides evidence that spiritual practices:

A) decrease attention and memory.
B) lead to increased feelings of control.
C) increase the risk of dementia.
D) can positively impact brain structure.

Question 61

"Socioemotional selectivity" is a term that describes the process involved in:

A) arriving at subjective well-being.
B) developing relationships with others.
C) maximizing one's zone of maximum comfort.
D) mastering instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

Question 62

Hanna is a 70-year-old woman who has a choice: she can either go out with some old friends or make some new friends at the community center. Socioemotional selectivity theory would predict that if Hanna's decision is based on emotional regulation, she will:

A) choose to make new friends.
B) go out with her old friends.
C) stay home and see no one.
D) invite her old friends to the community center so that they can all make new friends.

Question 63

Sibling relationships are special in that they:

A) vary across families.
B) typically last a lifetime.
C) are based on competition.
D) are emotionally based.

Question 64

Merlin and Kay are both 69 years old and married. Compared with Karin and Bill, who are 37 years old and married, Merlin and Kay probably:

A) have a reduced potential for conflict.
B) have a lower potential for pleasure.
C) are more different from one another in terms of health.
D) exhibit more gender differences in terms of sources of pleasure.

Question 65

According to socioemotional selectivity theory, social contact is motivated by a goal, such as:

A) information seeking.
B) discontinuity.
C) infantilization.
D) an altruistic gene.

Question 66

Eve is very close to her siblings, is very involved in their lives, and keeps an average level of contact with them. At what point in her life is Eve's relationship with her siblings likely to be MOST important?

A) Early childhood
B) Adolescence
C) Middle adulthood
D) Late adulthood

Question 67

Which factor is LEAST likely to lead to the development of online friendships?

A) Precommitment
B) Time spent online
C) Situational factors
D) Decreased self-disclosure

Question 68

Social contact motivated by emotional regulation tends to lead to:

A) stronger family ties.
B) meeting more people.
C) a preference for familiar people.
D) a more diverse social network.

Question 69

Who would benefit the MOST from having friends in their neighborhood?

A) Jake (age 20) who lives with roommates
B) Karla (age 70) who lives alone
C) Mazie (age 60) who lives with her husband
D) Jason (age 80) who lives with family

Question 70

Social contact motivated by information seeking tends to lead to:

A) stronger family ties.
B) meeting more people.
C) a preference for familiar people.
D) a more diverse social network.

Question 71

For older adults, friendships can provide several benefits. Which of these is LEAST likely to be one of these benefits?

A) Increased independence
B) Increased happiness
C) Decreased length of telomeres
D) Increased self-esteem

Question 72

How does the size of social convoys vary between generations?

A) Young adults have the largest convoys.
B) Middle-aged adults have the largest convoys.
C) Older adults have the largest convoys.
D) Convoy size does not vary by generation.

Question 73

Who is MOST likely to have the fewest new friends?

A) Bud, who is 20 years old
B) Linnie, who is 40 years old
C) Stella, who is 60 years old
D) Miller, who is 80 years old

Question 74

Older women have a ____ number of friends characterized by ____.

A) greater; less intimacy
B) greater; more intimacy
C) smaller; more intimacy
D) smaller; less intimacy

Question 75

Social support appears to be most important for individuals from the ____ community.

A) European-American
B) African-American
C) Asian-American
D) Latino-American

Question 76

When are sibling relationships likely to be the MOST important?

A) Early childhood
B) Adolescence
C) Middle adulthood
D) Late adulthood

Question 77

All of these individuals are over 70 years old. Who is MOST likely to be satisfied with their life?

A) Sergei, who has a close relationship with one of his sons
B) Dimitri, who has close relationships with all six of his children
C) Karl, who has a close relationship with one friend who is not a member of his family
D) Ernst, who has a close relationship with many friends who are not members of his family

Question 78

Celia is motivated to join a support group after her husband's death in order to meet others who understand what she is experiencing. This is the result of a motivation related to:

A) activities of daily living.
B) integrity versus despair.
C) information seeking.
D) emotional regulation.

Question 79

One reason that sibling relationships are thought to be so important is that siblings often:

A) remain highly involved in each other's lives.
B) constitute the longest-lasting relationships.
C) support each other financially.
D) use competition to motivate their successes throughout life.

Question 80

Brando is motivated to join a group of strangers at a party when he overhears them taking about a new movie that he is interested in learning about. This BEST exemplifies the process of:

A) activities of daily living.
B) integrity versus despair.
C) patronizing speech.
D) socioemotional selectivity.